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Part 1

Volunteering in your Country

+Learning Outcomes

To understand the opportunities for undertaking voluntary work in the cultural heritage sector.

To identify the motivations and benefits of volunteering

To understand the role of volunteers within cultural heritage institutions

To understand the relevant policy and legislation cultural institutions must take into account when recruiting volunteers

+What is Volunteering?

Any activity that involves spending time, unpaid, doing something that aims to benefit the environment or

someone (individuals or groups) other than, or in addition to, close

relatives.

(Volunteering England)

+Volunteering Roles

There are a number of different volunteering roles within different organisations, including but not limited to:

Internships

Administrative support

Customer service

Mentoring and Befriending

Trustees and governance

Volunteer Driving

+Why Volunteer?

For Leisure

Free time

Social reasons

Academic path

Personal learning and enrichment

To pursue a career (e.g. interest in gaining access to museums, galleries and heritage sector)

+Volunteering Statistics

In 2008/09 41% of adults volunteered formally (giving unpaid help through a group, club or organisation) and 62% volunteered informally (giving unpaid help as an individual to someone who is not a relative)(2008/09 DCLG Citizenship Survey).

In 2007/08 formal volunteers contributed an estimated £22.7 billion to the UK economy (UK Civil Society Almanac).

The average number of hours spent volunteering per volunteer declined by 30% between 1997 and 2007 (Helping Out, 2007).

Evidence also suggests that there is a trend towards more episodic volunteering (The UK Civil Society Almanac 2009).

(Institute for Volunteering Research: http://www.ivr.org.uk/ivr-volunteering-stats)

+Who Volunteers?

Volunteers are involved in a range of sectors. In 2008/09 the most popular sectors for formal volunteers were: sport/exercise (53%), hobbies, recreation/arts/ social clubs (42%). religion (36%), children’s education/schools (34%), youth children’s activities (outside school) (32%), health, disability and social welfare (25%), local community or neighbourhood groups (24%), the environment, animals (20%) (2008/09 DCLG Citizenship Survey).

Volunteers carry out a range of activities in their roles. In 2008/09 the most popular activities for formal volunteers were: organising or helping to run an event (55%), raising or handling money/ taking part in sponsored events (52%), leading the group/ member of committee (37%), providing transport/ driving (26%), giving information/advice/counselling (24%), visiting people (24%), secretarial, clerical or admin work (23%), befriending or mentoring people (21%) (2008/09 DCLG Citizenship Survey).

(Institute for Volunteering Research: http://www.ivr.org.uk/ivr-volunteering-stats )

+Volunteering and Employment

87% of employers think that volunteering can have a generally positive effect on career progression for people aged 16-25. However, nearly 30% felt that volunteering was irrelevant when considering a particular job application. A further 30% felt that volunteering was only relevant if linked directly to the field of work (Youth Volunteering: Attitudes and Perceptions, 2008, v).

In 2007/08 over 2 million people in England volunteered through an employer supported volunteering scheme. A quarter (25%) of employees are offered a scheme by their employer, with 43% of those offered a scheme taking part at least once in the last year (2008/09 DCLG Citizenship Survey).

(Institute for Volunteering Research: http://www.ivr.org.uk/ivr-volunteering-stats )

+A Volunteer’s Perspective Have you volunteered in a museum/gallery/heritage site?

1. Why did you do it?

2. What type of jobs did you do?

3. What did you get out of it?

4. Was the experience disappointing in any way?

5. Was too much or too little asked of you?

6. What contribution did you feel you gave?

7. Did you feel appreciated/valued, or unappreciated? How was this expressed?

8. Did you feel ‘managed’? In what ways?

+Benefits of Volunteering - Personal

Enhancing study

Contributing to a cause

Gaining new knowledge, skills and experience

Developing existing skills and knowledge

Enhancing a CV

Improving employability

Meeting new people

Using one's professional skills and knowledge to benefit others